Splicing-ring.



PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904.

1 Man NN HTLA N Gm Nu I? .m H m |PM W o M 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 No. 763,150.BATENTED JUNE 21, 1904. W. H. BURNHAM.

SPLIGING RING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1904.

H0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 21, 1904.

PATENT UEETQE.

\VILLIAM H. BURNHAM, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

SPLICING-RINGT SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,150,dated June 21, 1904. Application filed January 18,1904. Serial No.189,569. (No model.)

To [0/] Hill/01H it "many concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM HOWARD BURN- HAM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State ofMichigan, have invented a new and useful Splicing-Ring, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices of that class employedin the splicing of wires.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved meansfor connecting line-wires, and especially the line-wires of wire fences,which are subjected to severe tensional strain and which when connectedin the usual manner are likely to be broken at the splice, owing to theweakening of the wire by the short turns usually made in the formationof the splice.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which provision is made for forming an extensivebearing-surface for the wires at the splicing-point in order to preventshort turns in the wire and to deflect the wire in such manner that adirect longitudinal strain will be'avoidcd and the wires held morefirmly together, the splice growing tighter in proportion to the strainto which it is subjected.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter more fullyappear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangementof parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, andminor details of the structure may be made without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, on anexaggerated scale, of a wire-splice embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are views illustrating differentsteps in the method of forming the splice. Fig. 5 is a View similar toFig. 1, illustrating a slightly-modified construction of splice. Fig. 6is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.

Similar numerals and letters of reference are employed to indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the connection of line-wires, and especially in connecting rolls ofwire fencing that areformed of hard-steel wire, it is usual to unite thelongitudinal wires by the formation of interlocking return-bends, theends of the wire being afterward coiled around the linewire in order tohold the two firmly together. Where the wire is of steel, the short bendso formed tends to weaken the wire and the weakest point of the line isgenerally found at the splice. To overcome this difficulty, I haveprovided means for preventing the formation of a short bend in the wireand provide a splice that is much stronger than any other part of thewire.

In the drawings, 1 designates a ring formed of cast or wrought metal andpreferably circular in cross-section, although it may be elliptical,oval, or of other form, and the ring may be so shaped as to form a link,if desired. The two line-wires a and 7) are passed through the ring fromopposite sides and in opposite directions, and the end portions of thetwo wires are turned over in the manner shown in Fig. 4, so as to bearupon both the line-wires and then return and bite frictionally, as inthe manner of forming a Blackwall or clove hitch. The ends of the wireare thence coiled continuously until the end is reached, and the resultis the finished splice shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be observed more especially on reference to Fig. Q'that thecross-sectional area of the ring is such as to separate the wires. Thewire a is bent at 0 and thence passed through the ring and is again bentat (Z, after which it is bent around the wire 7), as indicated at e, andfinally coiled upon itself and the mating wire I), as indicated at f.The

mating wire 5 is bent at g and after passing through the ring is againbent at it and is thence wrapped around the wire a, as indicated at d,after which it is coiled upon itself and the mating wire a, as indicatedat It. WVhen strain is exerted, the wires will not bind closely aroundthe ring, but will be separated from each other at points outside thering for a distance equal to the distance between the outer line of thering and the end turns of the coils. The strain will be resisted in partby the turns of the wire, and this strain will tend to open up thecoils, but may be rendered more effective by increasing the number ofturns to any desired extent. Aside from this the strain is in a lateraldirection and not in the direct line of the wire, and this tends totighten the first turn of the wire on the linewire, the effect beingsimilar to that gained in a Blackwall hitch, an effect which cannot begained if the strain was exerted in the direct line of the wire, as insuch case there would be a tendency of the first turn to slip. In anordinary splice the opposite turns of the wire will be drawn togetherunder longitudinal strain; but in the present case the coils are heldfrom contact with each other and cannot even engage the outer surface ofthe ring, owing to the angular relation of the wires, as will be evidenton reference to Fig. 2. This prevents the coils from jamming and lessensliability of breakage.

Inasmuch as the principal object of the invention is to prevent orminimize the danger of breakage of hard-steel wire from the short turnsusually made in a wire-splice, it is obvious that the ring may be usedin connection with splices of different character.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a slight modification in which the wires(0 b are passed through the ring in the same manner as illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, the wires, however,

beingtwisted to form circular coils, as indicated at f 70.

The splicing-rings forming the subject of this invention can be made atvery small cost of common cast-iron and require no finishing after beingbroken from the gatings, and as they present no sharp edges for contactwith the wire it is impossible to cut or weaken the wire, as is the caseof splicing of the ordinary type.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In awire-splice, a ring through which the opposite ends of the wires to beunited pass, respectively, in opposite directions to thereby deflect theWire laterally, the end portion of each wire being coiled on theopposing wire at a point beyond the periphery of the ring.

2. In a wire-splice, a ring through which the opposite ends of the wiresto be united pass, respectively in opposite directions, to therebydeflect the wire laterally, the end of each wire being bent around theopposing wire at some distance beyond the periphery of the ring, andbeing thence coiled continuously upon itself and the opposing wire in adirection toward the ring.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

W. H. BURNHAM.

\Vitnesses:

A. M. CoNAN'r, H. P. STEARNs.

